Independent craft blog since 2007
This gorgeous needlepoint band is just one element of the Love of Stitching Sampler that SharonB is sharing with us. She says,
This band is a pattern made up of half Algerian eye stitch turned on an angle, surrounded by straight stitch. A row of cross stitch borders the band top and bottom.
Gorgeous. See the post on Pin Tangle blog.
I love handmade Christmas gifts, but making a completely different present for every person on the list can turn a lovely idea into a very expensive, very messy December. One gift needs special paint, another needs a different size box, and the third requires a tool I will probably use once.
My easier approach is to choose one gift I can make in a batch. Buy the main supplies in a larger quantity, make the same basic project for everyone, then change a colour, label or small detail to suit each person. It still feels personal, but I am not setting up a new craft station for every name on the list.
This works particularly well for teachers, neighbours, work friends, extended family and stocking fillers. The secret is to choose something the recipients will actually use or enjoy, and to check the cost per finished gift before filling your cart.
It can, but a large pack is not automatically a bargain. Add up the cost of the main materials, any tools you need to buy, packaging and extras such as ribbon or adhesive. Divide that total by the number of gifts you can actually finish.
For example, if your supplies and boxes cost $60 and you make 12 gifts, the material cost is $5 per gift. If you only have six people to give them to, the effective cost is $10 each unless you have a real use for the leftovers. Check quantities carefully, too. A listing for 24 ornament blanks is not much help if it includes only 12 hanging cords.
Before shopping, make one sample from supplies you already own if possible. Time yourself, check how it looks when packaged and make sure you would be happy to repeat it ten times. This is where many ambitious Christmas plans are saved from becoming a pile of half-finished snowmen.
A pack of unfinished wooden Christmas ornaments is a good starting point for batch gifts. Paint the same simple design on each one, then add a name, initial or date to make it personal. You could use the recipient’s favourite colour while keeping the rest of the design identical.
Check whether the pack includes hanging cord and whether the blanks have smooth edges. Allow for paint and sealant drying time before stacking or boxing them. If you want another style to try, these decoupaged wooden Christmas ornaments show how decorative paper can make a simple blank look special.
Gifts in jars are easy to make in an assembly line: measure all the first layers, then all the second layers, and so on. Choose a recipe you have tested, buy the dry ingredients in suitable quantities, and attach clear instructions for anything the recipient needs to add at home.
Start with CraftBits’ basic recipe-in-a-jar instructions, then check the capacity of your jars against the recipe. Buying matching jars in a multipack makes the finished gifts look tidy together. Include ingredient information for anyone with allergies, and skip perishable ingredients that need refrigeration.
This is a lovely option when you are giving to children or craft-loving adults. Put the supplies for one small project into each bulk kraft gift box. It might be a friendship bracelet, a painted ornament or a simple paper decoration.
Buy materials for one project and divide them evenly between boxes. Add a short instruction card and check that each box has everything needed to begin. Nobody wants to unwrap a craft kit on Christmas morning and discover the glue is still at your house.
If the kits are for children, choose supplies suitable for their ages and take care with beads, sharp tools and small parts.
Sometimes the “same gift” can be the presentation rather than the contents. Buy one size of bulk Christmas gift boxes, then fill each with a few thoughtful items that suit the recipient. A handmade ornament, wrapped sweets and a personal note can be enough.
Using the same box, tissue and ribbon simplifies shopping and wrapping. The little changes inside make each gift feel chosen. If you are including food, check allergies and package it appropriately.
For the friend who enjoys Christmas as much as you do, make a small set of gift tags or decorative wrapping pieces. Cut all the tags at once, stamp or decorate them in batches, then bundle them with twine.
Blank kraft gift tags in bulk are useful if you do not want to cut dozens by hand. You can also make them from packaging you already have; CraftBits’ cardboard gift tag tutorial is a practical place to start.
Keeping the project the same does not mean every gift must look identical. Choose one detail to change: a name, a ribbon colour, a photo, a favourite flavour or a handwritten note. That is enough to show you were thinking of the person receiving it.
I find it easiest to make all the bases first, add the personal details next, and package everything at the end. Keep a list of recipients beside you so you do not finish 11 ornaments and realise you have written “Aunt Mary” twice.
If you are shopping on Amazon, compare the pack size, total price, delivery estimate and what is included before ordering. Bulk supplies only reduce the cost when you will use the quantity you buy. Start with a manageable batch, give yourself time for drying and wrapping, and let the personal touches do the work.